Xavier Cortada, an artist, wrote to
Bush about his support for a proposed constitutional amendment
banning same-sex marriage.

“Today, I am feeling particularly
denied and particularly unequal,” Cortada wrote. “My life
partner, Juan Carlos, and I have been together for eight years and
are being denied rights afforded to others who can legally marry.
Worst, I feel suffocated – living in a society where liberty
evaporates with every attack on people who happen to be gay – and I
see it can only get worse as this debate rages on. The problem is
not just the homophobia and violence (remember Matthew Shepard?) that
this marginalization generates, but also the image that is generated
in society at large: Gays and lesbians as second class citizens. For
our beloved Country this would mean that 'all are equal, but some are
more equal than others.' Nothing can be more threatening to a
democracy.”

In his reply, Bush advised his friend
that he could make his relationship more permanent through other
legal means than marriage.

“Thank you for writing and I
apologize for not responding earlier,” Bush wrote. “The tyranny
of the present has gotten me!”

“I am sensitive to your point of view
but respectfully disagree. If there is discrimination, there are
remedies. The cases of violence against gay and lesbians are
unconscionable and the laws in Florida exist to bring justice. Your
relationship with Juan Carlos can be made more permanent through
contractual obligations that set forth asset disposition and other
issues. However, I don't believe that your relationship should be
afforded the same status in the law as a man and a woman agreeing to
marriage. The institution of marriage is under attack in our society
and it needs to be strengthened. This does not have to be at the
expense of other kinds of relationships but in support of the most
important institution in our society.”